Self-expanding well plug



July 8, 1941. J, G, PHILLIPS 2,248,908

SELFEXPANDING WELL PLUG Filed Aug. 2, 1940 flz- EE-5,-

LEFT HAND THREAD INVENTO;

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 8, 1941 l l 2,248,908 v SELF-EXPANDING WELL PLUG James G. Phillips, Wink, Tex.,

assigner o! onethird to V. S. Gary and one-third to Charles P. Laughlin, both oi Wink, Tex. l

Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,495 6 Claims. (Cl. 166-13.)

This invention relates to well plugs and cementing devices and it has particular reference to a device for inexpensively and expeditiously sealing and plugging cavities in a bore hole.

The present application discloses in part subject-matter shown and described in applicants earlier filed application Serial No. 228,240, led September 2, 1938, for Plugs for wells and abandoned May 3, 1939.

The principal objects of the invention are: to provide an apparatus which may be positioned at any elevation in a bore hole and adapted to direct and retain a sealing medium at the desired point; to protect the sealing medium against gas and chemical action until a mechanical set and seal is obtained.

Other advantages are apparent, such as eifecting a saving of the quantity of sealing medium required; elimination of bulkiness and the like.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has other and lesser objects, to become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational structed according tothe invention, in vertical section.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same tool showing the flexible container for the sealing medium forming the plug'.

view o a tool con- Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on lines 3-3 onFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view ing one of a series of container supporting mem.- bers. 1

Figure 5 is a view partly in vertical section showing the construction and manner of ,ap-

- plying the container to the body oi the tool.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the lower valve.

Figure 7 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the valve, and

' Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the slide valve, partly in section. y

The device consists oi relatively short pieces of pipe I and 2 which are Joined together by means of a. coupling 3' and adapted to thread into a tubing 4.

A suillcient length or -number of joints of tubing 4 may be used to lower the mem` ber I to the desired elevation in a well bore. The

upperv end of the pipe 2 is preferably provided .i n with a left hand thread, so indicated in Figure 1.

Below the threaded portion, the pipe 2 is enlarged diametrically to form an internal shoulder 4*. A

in perspective showconcentrically arranged in the pipe2 andl adapted to serve as a slide valve. The upper edge of the member 5 is adapted to wedge against a lead washer 6 or a washer o1 suitable material which will serve as a seal when forced against the shoulder 4' of the pipe 2.v The member 5 is centrally .boredthe greater portion of the longitudinal f length thereof so that its internal diameter is the same as that of the threaded uppery portion of the pipe. The base oi the member- 6 is pro- `vided with a small 'central opening 1. .Above and adjacent the opening 1, the member 5 is milledA out to iorm a cavity 8. The base of the pipe 2 is internally threaded and adapted to receive and hold a reducer 8. n yThis reducing member 9 is also internally threaded andladapted to carry a pipe or tubing I0. The lower end of the tubing v I0 is threaded and adapted tocarry a valve I I for controlling the flow of a liquid passed through the tubing 4, pipes-I and 2 and tubing I0.

The valve II may be constructed similar to that shown in Figure 1, or of any desirable form that will function when the device is lowered and raised in the well bore. The valve shown in Figure 1 consists of a valve seat I2 which is screwed into the lower end of the tubing III and provided with an opening in alignment longitudinally with the tubing I0. A valve stem I3 is passed'through the opening of the valve seat I2 and screwed or otherwise attached to the valve II. The lower end of the stem I3 is provided with a second valve member I4 which is adapted to be moved into contact with the base of the valve seat I2 and close the same. A rod I5 may be attached to the base of the valve member I4, of sulcient length to reach the bottom o1 the well. The

length of the stem I3 permits the valve to be controlled when pressure is directed through the tubing III in either direction.

The pipe 2 is provided with a plurality oi lateral openings I6 which are adapted to be nor- -mally closed by the slide valve or member 6. These openings are positioned slightly below the top of the valve 5, when the valve is wedged against the seal 6, and adapted to register with the container for the sealing medium. In order to hold the slide valve 5 in this position, a spring I1 is interposed between the base of the valve 5 and the member 9. The spring I1 yis a coiled spring which is adapted to be carried in the pipe 2 in a manner not to restrict the passage of uid therethrough.

Surrounding the pipe I is a collar I8, providedwith a plate I8 which bears against a cylindrical member 5 having packing rings 5 is 55 coiled spring I9, whichin turn, abuts the couthe wen hole, and they serve to support th sack pling 20 by which the tool is suspended by the tubing. 'I'he collar I2 is annularly grcoved at 2I and is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the pipe I. The purpose of this arrangement will be presently described.

The container for the sealing medium may consist of a ilexible or resilient sack 24 which is adapted to it the outside diameter ot the pipe 2 and extend any desired length down the side of the tubing III. when placed in operative relation with the structure of the device. In form, it is an open-ended cylindrical piece of material having approximately one-half o! its length oi' a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the pipe 2. 'I'he other portion of the material may be lformed with a diameter sulcient to permit the desired amount oi cementing -or sealing medium to be directed into the well hole to :dll a cavity. The container, vbefore it is placed around the pipe 2 and tubing III, has the appearance of a long-necked bottle that is provided with a base opening the size of its neck. Within this bottle form and adjacent the base thereof is a conical-shaped, open-ended piece of material which forms a second container 25 for the deviceisee Figure 5). This vconical openended member is inverted in the bottle-shaped form and positioned so that its larger rim is secured to the inner walls ot the bottle portion.

The neck portion 22 of this bottle-shaped sack or container 23 is adapted -to receive, ilrst, the tubing II) and then the pipe 2. The upper edge of the neck is then secured to the pipe 2, above the shoulder 4*, and the base of the neck portion 25 is attached to the'tubing I0, adjacent the lower end thereof, as at a in Figure 5. Each oi these points are made fast with their respective portions oi the structure so that they will not be moved during operation of the device. When the neck portion 26 is secured to the structure o! the device, the body of the bottle-shaped form is then reversed and directed around the neck portion 26 so that its inner surface will become the outer surface oi the container 24. The opening that was originally the base opening in the bottle ris moved to a point slightly above the top of the neck portion 28 and secured to the pipe at a point 2'I, similar to the method of securing the neck portion to the pipe 2. When this is done,-

the conical member 22 has been moved to the outer portion of the container 24. The free end or the smaller end 22 of the conical member is then -resiliently fastened around the collar I2, in the annular groove 2| thereof. This resilient means of attaching the conical portion 22 oi.' the container may consist of a coil spring which encircles the pipe 2 and resiliently anchors the upper portion of the member 22 thereto.

When a sealing medium is forced or directed into the container 24. itsweight may tend to cause the portion 22 oi thesame to be moved on the pipe 2 and the tubing I0. This may be overcome 'by means of a support for the base of the container 24 which consists oi a plurality oi ex- .ible members 22 which are disposed on the body oi' the valve I I. The body of the seat of the valve I I is slotted at b, as shown in Figures 8, 7, and 8, so as to receive and pivotally support the members 22. Each member 22 is made with an arc-shaped upper member 2s (Figure 49 which is an integral part of a downwardly extending arm 20. 'I'he lower end of the arm 22 is pivotally supported in the slot b of the valve body. These members 22 serve to hold the container 24 in a manner so that the device may be more readily inserted into 24 and its sealing medium.. The members 22 are normally held against the sack24 by means o! a coil spring 22 which is passed around each prong 22' and adapted to resiliently urge the same towards the sack. When the sack receives its sealing medium. the members 2s will swing outwardly and rest against the side wall ot the well bore or cavity to be sealed and serve as a support for the base of the sack or container 24.

When the device is lowered in a well bore to the desired elevation, a fluid may be poured into the tubing` 4 which willpass through the pipes I and 2 and slide valve l. into the tubing I0 and be held therein by the valve II. When the uid reaches the desired level in the tubing 2, a plug 22 (Figure 1) is placed in the tubing 4, which serves as a seal between the iiuid and the sealing medium. The desired amount of sealing medium 'is then poured on the top oi' the plug 22 and the device is moved so as to permit a sumcient escape nation. These two plugs 22 and 24 serve to seal the sealing medium from contact with iiuid or any other elementwhich may be placed in the tubing, prior to and after the sealing medium has been directed into the'tubing 4. If the location of the device in the well bore is oi sufficient depth to utilize the gravitational force of the sealing medium and the column oi liquid placed upon it, the sealing medium may be directed into the container 24 without further power. If the weight of the sealing medium andcolumn` of fluid above it is not of suiilcient weight to accomplish the desired effect, a pump or ram may be utilized to insure passage of the sealing medium into the container 24.v When the lower column oi' uid has been permitted to drain through the valve II. to the extent that the plug 22'. engages and moves the slide valve 5 against its-spring tension II as shown in Figure l1, the ports I8 will be opened and the sealing medium will pass into the container. A

When the sealing medium passes through the ports I4, it will pass down between the pipe 2 and the portion 22 ofthe container 24 untllit reaches an opening 22 or a plurality of openings positioned in the lower wall of the portion 22 of the container. before it can pass into the'con- `tainer 24. Thisinsures the directionfof the seal-- ing medium into the'bottom of the sack or container 24. When the container 24 is illled.

the surplus sealingmedium 'may pass through-` and serve to seal the openings I2 against e oi' any foreign substance to the sealing medium while the same is harden.

It is to be noted'that when the flexible container expands with its contents, the plate 'Il moves upward against the spring I2, compressing the same when excess sealing mediumis introduced into the container. Holes 22 in the collar permit escape of the excess sealing medium in this manner and these holes, with the plato Il,

act as a release valve. The spring I2 set at the `being permitted to set or 1. In combination with a string of tubing in a well, a cementing device comprising a tubular body threadedly suspended by said tubing string,

having ports intermediate its ends and a pipe fluid against passage back into sindv tubular` body from said container.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the iiuid receiving reinforcing means is in communication with the outer chamber of said container and receives excess fluid forced into said container.

depending therefrom, a valve in said pipe for controlling the passage of uid therethrough, a siidable valve in said tubular body normally closing said ports, a compressible spring holding said valve in operative position, a double walled, iexible fluid container surrounding said tubular body and pipe, a coniform fabric reinforcing member embracing the upper end of said container and said tubular body, means actuating said slidable valve by fluid pressure to eect passage ofuid through said ports into the space between the inner wall of said container and tubular body, means to constrain said uid to emerge into the space said inner and the outer wall' of said container adjacent the bottom of the latter to expand the same, means to admit excess fluid into said coniform reinforcing member, and means for holding said fluid againstreentering said tubular body.

2. In combination with a string of tubing in a well, a cementing plug comprising a tubular body in sections having parts adjacent -its upper end and a valve controlled opening in its lower section, a sleeve valve operatively closing said ports, spring means holding said valve in operating position, a dual walled exible uid container embracing said tubular body, defining inner. and outer chambers, means movable under fluid pressure in said tubing string for actuating said sleeve valve to admit fluid into the inner chamber of said container, means constraining fluid to' pass from said inner chamber to said outer chamber at its bottom to thereby rise to the top thereof and expand said container, expansible, fluid receiving reinforcing means embracing the upper end of said container, and means to hold said 4. In combination` with a tubing string in al well, a cementing plug comprising a tubular body in section having a valve controlled fluid passage in its lower end and ports adjacent its upper end, a dual walled, flexible fluid container surrounding said tubular body, defining -inner and outer chambers communicating at their lower .ends whereby fluid from said tubing 'string and body will be received first by said inner chamber, thence by said outer chamber at its lower end, spring resisted,'means closing the ports in -said tubular body prior to its actuation by uid pressure thereon and means for resisting return of saldi-luid into said tubular body through said ports when said container has been filled.

5. In combination with a string of tubing in a well, a tubular body having uid outlet ports and a valve controlled fluid opening in its lower end, an expansible dual walled fluid container surrounding said body receiving fluid through said ports and defining inner and outer chambers in communication at their lower ends and having a uid receiving reinforcing means embracing the tops thereof and communicating with the outer of said chambers, valve means normally closing the ports in said tubular body, spring\means operatively retaining said valve means, means for actuating said valve means for introducing fluid into the chambers and reinforcing means of said' container, means to close said ports against re- -tum of uid into said body when said container is filled, and means-for vsupporting the bottom of said container against the weight of fluid therein.

6. A construction as described in claim 5 in whichthe means for supporting the bottom of the container is comprised of a plurality of arms having their lowerends pivotally joined to the tubumr body whereby their upper ends wm be capable of radial extension to lie against the expanded bottom of said container.

.mms at.. Psaumes. 

